Insulin
Synonyms
Chain, Insulin B
Iletin
Insulin A Chain
Insulin B Chain
Insulin, Regular
Insulin, Sodium
Insulin, Soluble
Novolin
Regular Insulin
Sodium Insulin
Soluble Insulin
A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).